Person-Focused Therapy Research Paper

My beliefs about human life are intricate. We are complex individuals that are shaped not only by our genes, but also by our environments, our experiences and interactions with others. Surely, the way that people behave can be due to psychological disorders that we are not at fault for, however, I also believe that issues involving anxiety, stress and depression are often perpetuated by our own thinking processes and how we feel about ourselves in comparison to the beliefs of others. Often times, I feel that having someone to listen, validate, empathize and care for us is what it takes for change to take place. As social beings, I believe that through interactions with a person who we care about and a person that cares about us, improvements can be made. In this paper, I will discuss how my philosophy of life relates to that of person-centered therapy, as described by Sharf (2016).

Carl R. Rogers is known as the founding father of person-centered therapy. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1902 to a devoted Christian and a civil engineer (Rogers, Kirschenbaum, & Land, 2001). In 1922 Rogers began to doubt his religious teaching from early on in life, he sought a more liberal education at the Union Theological Seminary (Rogers, Kirschenbaum, & Land, 2001). After two years he left to attend Columbia University to study clinical and education psychology. Rogers went on to write four major books: The Clinical Treatment of the Problem Child (1939), Counseling and Psychotherapy: New Concepts in Practice (1942), Client-Centered Therapy (1951), and Psychotherapy and Personality (Rogers & Dymond, 1954) (Walsh, 2010; Patterson, 2007).

Client will be asked to list three goals that she would like to achieve. “Goal setting is the process of collaborative identifying specific therapeutic outcomes for treatment”. Since sessions are not long three goals is a realistic number to approach. All of the goals must be measurable, observable, and achievable. Client goals are as followed: Feeling comfortable outside of her home, participating in senior program in neighborhood, and to travel downtown into the city and experience activities that she once enjoyed. Counselor agrees that the goals client listed are achievable. Both counselor and client can now develop an

Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) embodies a humanistic approach, which is intended to increase a person’s feelings of self-worth, and reduce the level of incongruence between the ideal self and the actual self (Gelso, Cepeda & Davenport, 2006). This critical analysis is meant to examine various approaches and skills counselors/therapists would use when applying a ‘person-centered’ type of therapy. This analysis briefly outlines what PCT is, but focuses more heavily on the various approaches used by social workers throughout the therapeutic relationship. More specifically, PCT approaches such as, counselor/client congruence, empathic understanding, and unconditional positive regard are the main approaches highlighted in this analysis as they play an integral role in the counseling relationship.

In the following paper, I will be assessing the main character, Meredith Grey from the hit television show Grey’s Anatomy (2005). Throughout the paper I will explain the problems that the client presents through a Person Centered therapy approach. This approach will help guide the client to self-awareness and ultimate acceptance of her true self. Being that this client presents many symptoms relating to depression, loss, neglect and need of acceptance; Person Centered therapy can be a method in which allows for the client to accept responsibilities and grow from their actions. I will then critique this method of therapy by the views of Gestalt therapy to be able to give an alternative way of interacting with the clients problems.

Evaluate the claim that Person-Centred Therapy offers the therapist all that he/she will need to treat clients.

From a self-management level, patients who are not meeting goals and health outcomes have to reevaluate their personal and health-related goals. If patients are not meeting health outcomes due to non-compliance or motivational issues, it is appropriate for patients to set individual goals and action plans (Bodenheimer, Davis, & Holman, 2007). Individually, or with provider assistance, goals should be set by the patient that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time oriented (Bodenheimer et al., 2007). Once goals have been set, follow up from providers or caregivers are helpful in keeping patients accountable (Bodenheimer et al., 2007).

In the 1940s Carl Rogers was well on his way to revolutionizing the state of traditional, directive psychotherapy and pioneering what would soon become the person-centered approach. Although Rogers strayed from the psychological mainstream’s view that therapists drive their clients recovery through such mediums as advice, direction, teaching and interpretation he still believed that the therapist’s role was crucial, and it was their attributes that paved the way to increased awareness and self-directed change.

“The Person-Centred Therapy approach has its limitations when it comes to treating a gambling addiction.” Discuss.

Person centered therapy: Stan was able to articulate the things in his life that he felt were problematic. He also expressed a desire to change these things but lacked knowledge on how to do so. Person centered therapy is based on the theory that we want to actually become the people that we envision ourselves to be and that we base who we are on how we view reality. In person centered therapy with a counselor that Stan could fully trust and be open with, Stan would be able to evaluate himself and his perceptions and take ownership of them. Person centered counselor’s are trained to be extremely empathetic, always positive and are to believe that their clients are fully capable and able to change. A client with Stan’s

Stalker, Levene & Coady (1999), suggest the process is a “mutual endeavour involving therapists and clients together constructing a mutually agreed upon goal” (p.471). I believe that it is important for the clients to have as much control as possible when setting goals and finding solutions. I believe that this would enable more of a sense of comfort and ownership over plans made. I also like the tools used as I believe these would be beneficial for helping clients identify exceptions to problems, and help them see a brighter future. These are aspects I would like to incorporate into my

This assignment will examine the case of my client John Sava and administering a virtual interview for helping to formulate intervention goals. In addition, from this interview it will discuss the three goals that will be addressed and the reasons for selecting them for my client. However, the client is the one who chooses what problems need to be addressed because of self-determination and which issues might have a higher priority and need compared to others. Furthermore, this paper will discuss the goals that are realistic, measurable, and achievable for the client, and will be stated in operational terms. The final part to be addressed is the contract that outlines and specifies the goals, the responsible parties which would be John, the

I want to be genuine and spontaneous and me; but you've got to help me.

Clarification and agreement around the client’s goals represents a starting point for collaborative exploration of multiple ways in which these goals can be attained. Goal setting offers a platform for both therapist and client to resolve any differences through collaborative dialogue which reflects their mutual intentions and understandings (Clark, 1996) Goals can be defined as immediate, those which help to achieve longer term goals, goals to be worked on in therapy and long term or life goals (Hanley, Sefi & Ersahin, 2016) A client may formulate life goals including non-specific, contradictory, avoidant, unattainable or no life goals, which can then be broken down into therapeutic goals and the therapist will have her own goals as well

Understanding that solution-focused therapists operate under the assumption that clients already have the necessary skills to solve their problems, it is our job as therapists to help them regain insight into their problems. Therefore, it is understandable why solution-focused therapy is considered a brief therapeutic approach. If the clients already have the ability to solve their own issues then they just need to be reminded of their strengths and resources, shifting the focus.